27 August 2007 - International
— Global warming is melting the Arctic at
an alarming pace. This summer the Arctic
ice cover was the smallest ever recorded.
As a result, a host of countries are seeking
to drill for the oil and gas once protected
by ice.
It's a sad irony. In attempting to secure
"rights" to Arctic fisheries,
new transport routes, oil, gas and mineral
resources, countries gain a vested interest
in the continued melting of the Arctic.
But the more oil and gas we burn, the faster
the Arctic melts and the closer our planet
comes to catastrophic climate change.
World Park Antarctica
In 1991, after a long Greenpeace campaign,
the 39 Antarctic Treaty signatories agreed
to a 50-year minimum prohibition of all
mineral exploitation, in effect preserving
the continent for peaceful, scientific purposes.
This serves as an example of how Arctic
territorial issues should be handled.
The Antarctic is a landmass surrounded
by oceans, the Arctic is an ocean surrounded
by land, but the polar regions still have
a lot in common. Both are incredibly fragile
and susceptible to human activities. Both
are part of the global commons and should
be protected in perpetuity. Both are relatively
untouched and should stay that way.
We say the Arctic should be designated
a World Park, including a marine reserve.
Large-scale marine reserves are areas closed
to all extractive practices, such as fishing
and mining, as well as disposal activities.
There is a growing body of scientific evidence
demonstrating that the establishment of
large-scale networks of marine reserves
could be the key to preventing and reversing
global fisheries collapse.
Naming the thing
Every protected area deserves a name. "Arctic"
comes from the Greek word arktos, or bear,
reflecting its position under the constellation
Ursa Major, the "Great Bear".
The polar bear shares part of its scientific
name Ursus maritimus with this constellation.
(Ursus is Latin for "bear".) And
the polar bear's survival is depends on
Arctic ice and snow. Although polar bears
are good swimmers, they need sea ice for
hunting and travel. Pregnant polar bears
build snow dens for the winter, which they
give birth in.
Creating a world park in the Arctic would
help protect the ecosystem of the world's
largest land predator, and align with the
naming of the stars. So, we propose the
name: Great Bear World Park.
Don't let it melt away
As the political and military jockeying
for control of the far north continues,
the ice melts away. Researchers are now
saying we could have ice-free summers in
the Arctic by 2040.
The current round of military posturing
and flag waving over control of the Arctic
is an ominous sign for the future and should
urgently be addressed by the Secretary-General
of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon. The arctic should
be protected by all 192 UN member state
flags and not claimed by one.
